Our cultural tours are designed around travel themes. We introduce grand sites and out of the way treasures, take you from markets to feasts, explore awe-inspiring landscapes and architectural masterpieces and create unforgettable signature moments.

Attending an exclusive presentation at the National Constitution Center

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Touring the Eastern State Penitentiary (on your own terms)

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Seeing original documents of freedom

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A private discussion with a local constitutional scholar

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Dining where the Fourth of July was first celebrated

Philadelphia: Conflict and Compromise

Readings: A selection of the nation’s foundational documents, along
with works by voices often not heard in the process of creating the
republic; these may include essays, private letters, diaries, news
articles, etc.

We. It’s a bold one-word assertion that gave legal birth to a nation. “We the People of the United States.” How did we get to this “we”? Tensions based on region, race and religion threatened hopes for “a more perfect union.” The delegates of the Constitutional Convention themselves were far from agreeing on the purpose and form of government. “We” excluded many voices: women, enslaved and free African-Americans, native peoples and religious minorities. Yet somehow, conflicts were (mostly) resolved, compromises reached and 13 independent states united into a single nation. That “somehow,” the process of hammering out a republic, will be the focus of our time in history-rich Philadelphia.

Guided visits to Independence Hall and the National Constitution Center will bring the summer of 1787 to life. We’ll stand in the room where delegates, sweltering behind doors and windows closed for secrecy, argued, debated, passed motions, found points of agreement and ultimately signed the Constitution. A walking tour will take us through the bustling Georgian streets of the colonial city where Benjamin Franklin had his printing press and Betsy Ross her upholstery shop. There will also be informal opportunities to soak in the atmosphere, such as during lunch at the reconstructed City Tavern, the official “local” of the delegates. We’ll close our trip with visits to two famous Philadelphia landmarks. The imposing Eastern State Penitentiary, conceived by Franklin, was an early enforcer of solitary confinement—a treatment thought to encourage rehabilitation. The expansive grounds of Bartram’s Garden, the oldest botanical garden in North America, o er a much pleasanter sort of solitude. We’ll learn about the garden’s history and enjoy the brilliant colours of sugar maples, black gums and viburnums.

Our home will be the lovely Morris House Hotel, built in 1787 and full of period details. Here we’ll gather in the sunlit library for discussions and presentations. On some occasions we’ll be joined by a constitutional scholar from the University of Pennsylvania who will share his own understanding of the accomplishments and failures of the 1770s and 1780s and the importance of the post-convention debates where so much was at stake: “large- vs. small-scale politics, complexity vs. simplicity, heterogeneity vs. homogeneity, novelty vs. tradition, individual vs. collective liberty, and whether government power and personal liberty are in zero-sum relationship to each other.”

Includes:Accommodation in double occupancy, based on hotels listed or similar, meals as indicated in the itinerary, all activities as indicated in the itinerary, all entrance fees, readings, fully escorted by Gary Schoepfel. Taxes and gratuities of US$125 are included.

Your Tour Leader

Garyhas led and taught folks for the last 25 years how to lead book discussion groups. He has worked in the theatre for 10+ years as an actor, director, acting coach, and producer. A founding member of the Illinois Shakespeare Festival he received a Joseph Jefferson Citation for performance.

Includes:Accommodation in double occupancy, based on hotels listed or similar, meals as indicated in the itinerary, all activities as indicated in the itinerary, all entrance fees, readings, fully escorted by Gary Schoepfel. Taxes and gratuities of US$125 are included.

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In the meantime, if there is anything we can do to answer a question or two,
please do not hesitate to contact us!

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Thanks for requesting our Detailed Itinerary!

One of our Travel Planners will be in touch with you shortly to send you this detailed document. Inside you will find a wealth of touring information that will surely whet your appetite to join us on this fascinating journey!

In the meantime, if there is anything we can do to answer a question or two,
please do not hesitate to contact us!

We abide by the new Canadian Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL) and take your privacy very seriously. We will not share, sell or otherwise make your mailing list subscription information available to any third parties. By submitting your email address, your grant us explicit consent to send you e-newsletters as detailed above. You may withdraw your consent at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link found at the foot of every email that we send to you. You may also withdraw consent by sending an email request to: travel@worldwidequest.com.

We use your address information and details that you provide about your personal preferences or past trips to mail you selected brochures. If at any point you wish to have your name removed from our mailing list, please email or call us toll free at 1-800-387-1483.

Worldwide Quest operates custom designed tours in natural history, culture and the arts on all seven continents. Worldwide Quest offers a series of small group tours led by experienced and engaging leaders designed to enrich and inform in some of the world's most fascinating regions. We also create exceptional Private Journeys for families and friends and design customized travel programs for professional and cultural institutions. Created in 1970 (as Quest Nature Tours and Worldwide Adventures), we are Canadian owned and operated with offices in Toronto, Canada and New Delhi, India.
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